10 Reasons You Can't Sleep

You'd think Michael Perlis would know better. An MD and one of the nation's preeminent sleep researchers, Dr. Perlis didn't get 8 hours of sleep last night. Nor the night before. In fact, the most sleep Perlis ever gets is 7 hours. Now and then, when he has a pressing work deadline, he gets 5. But you won't find him napping over his computer keyboard at 3:00 in the afternoon. That's because Dr. Perlis, director of the University of Rochester's Sleep and Neurophysiology Research Lab, knows something you don't. He knows that the “Everyone needs at least 8 hours of sleep” maxim is about as bona fide as Bigfoot. “Certain popular beliefs, like the 8-hour rule, are misconceptions,” says Dr. Perlis, who wakes well rested after 7 hours. “In fact, some of these misconceptions can actually contribute to sleep problems like chronic insomnia.”

If you're one of the 60 to 70 million Americans with a sleep problem, there's a good chance a misconception or two may be keeping you up at night. Before you invest in a $1,500 mattress or spend a couple of nights wired with electrodes in a sleep disorders center, follow our truly soporific suggestions for a good night's rest every night. And see if you can trace your sleep problems to one of these 10 popular myths.